162 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



and set the plants from one to one and one half feet 

 apart in the row. The variation in the distances in 

 which they are planted should depend on the condi- 

 tions of the land and varieties which are being fruited. 

 The larger or sweet varieties require more room than 

 the small hot ones. 



CULTIVATION. 



Cultivation should be carried on thoroughly and 

 deeply, but should never be carried to the extent of 

 injuring or destroying the roots of the plants. This, 

 of course, must be ascertained by observation. An 

 easy and satisfactory way is to remove the soil from 

 beside a thrifty plant and follow the roots to the 

 end. After the plants have reached their bearing 

 size, it is well to discontinue the deep plowing, but 

 to continue the cultivation of the upper stratum of 

 the soil, until shipping season is over. When the 

 plants arc no longer wanted, they should be destoyed 

 at once ; especially should this be done if another crop 

 of peppers is to be grown on this land the following 

 year. 



MARKETING. 



As soon as the large varieties have reached the size 

 of two inches in diameter, they are usually consid- 

 ered right for marketing, but one must be guided by 

 experience in the matter. The earliest shipments are 

 usually the most remunerative, so we want to hurry 

 the first of it to the market. 



In removing the fruit from the plant, it should 

 never be torn off, but a knife or scissors should be used. 

 In cutting, the stem should be left about an inch long, 

 so as to prevent excessive loss of moisture. 



It is not necessary usually to wait for the fruit to 

 become slightly wilted before packing, but sometimes 

 this may be done to advantage. The fruit is packed 



